Slab transportation cart

ABSTRACT

A slab cart comprising: a castor frame including: four castors rotatably mounted to an underside of the castor frame; a primary upright member emanating upward from each end of the castor frame; two or more secondary upright members emanating upward from each end of the castor frame; a pivoting member engaged to the primary upright member and the secondary upright members; a platform frame engaged to the pivoting member and the primary and secondary upright members wherein the platform frame may pivot from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation; a support member secured to the platform frame which is used to aid in the retention of slabs; and a lift mechanism operationally associated with the castor frame, the upright members and the platform frame wherein the lift mechanism may raise or lower the platform frame relative to the castor frame.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device used as a aid in thetransportation of slab materials including stone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous materials which are commonly used as countertopmaterials in kitchens around the world. These materials includelaminate, wood, sheet metal, tile, and stone. Looking back to at leastthe 1940's, the popularity of laminate for countertops can hardly bedisputed. The popularity of laminate as a countertop material remainedstrong at least through the 1990's. However laminate has its drawbacksinv that it is susceptible to chipping, scratching, melting andde-laminating. In the 1960's, Corian® was developed and introduced toconsumers. Corian® is a solid surface material similar to stone, howeverit is still susceptible to scratches and discoloration.

Beginning in the late 1990's, the availability of less expensivecomputer numerically controlled (CNC) saws allowed granite to becomemuch more affordable for middle-class households. After measurements aretaken regarding the dimensions of a desired countertop, thosemeasurements are exported into a computer which cuts the slab toexacting specifications including cut-outs for sinks, faucets andfixtures. After the slab is polished, it is then ready to be installedby a skilled installer.

One drawback of stone countertops is their weight. A large stone slabintended for a cabinet or island in a homeowner's kitchen may weighseveral hundred pounds. Most facilities where stone countertops areproduced have one or more the crane lifts to aid in moving the slab fromplace to another. These lifts are used to load the slab on to or withina truck to deliver to a customer. However, once on site, the lifts areno longer available and the slabs must be transported within a buildingor dwelling by hand. Over the years numerous styles of carts have beenused to move stone slabs from a vehicle to the inside of a building. Onemajor drawback of these carts is that they are unstable and they requiretwo or more people to operate and move the slab. Examples of thesedevices include:

U.S. Pat. No. 8,348,287 discloses a slab cart for sheet material whichincludes a dolly component; shelf component; and a mechanism forcoupling the shelf component to the dolly component in a pivotablemanner, so that the shelf component will go from a horizontal positionto a vertical position. When shelf component is in the horizontalposition, the sheet material may be slid off of the shelf component ontoa support table or be manually slid from the support table onto theshelf component by a person using the slab cart. When the shelfcomponent with the sheet material is in the vertical position, the sheetmaterial will be held on edge to the shelf component and be transportedby dolly component through the confines of narrow places. However, '287does not disclose the inclusion of a lift mechanism operationallyassociated with the castor frame, the upright members and the platformframe wherein the lift mechanism may raise or lower said platform framerelative to the castor frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,469 discloses a panel loading and handling apparatushaving a U shaped, horizontal frame with rollers mounted along thebottom. A pair of rods with hooks at their bottoms are mounted onrollers in the channels to roll up and down the channels. A cablewinding apparatus is provided on one of the channels for winding a cableattached to the rods to raise the rods with the hooks at their bottomupward, simultaneously, along the channels to raise a drywall panelmounted thereon. The Support frame is adapted to be mounted on therollers high enough off the ground to enable the base legs of a drywallpanel lifter to roll underneath the frame to close proximity to theapparatus, and the hooks are adapted to be raised high enough inrelation to lifting means on the lifter, so that the panel can be liftedby the hooks and, by the apparatus being in close proximity to thelifter having extended height lifting capability, can be transferredonto the lifting means of the lifter and lifted by the lifting means toan extended height. However, '469 is designed for use in drywallinstallation which is much lighter than stone slabs and lacks theability to be used by a single person to install heavy countertops.

In light of all of the inadequacies with existing slab carts above, itis clear that a need exists to provide a device which aids an installerwith the transportation and installation of countertops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A slab cart comprising: a castor frame including: four castors rotatablymounted to an underside of the castor frame; a primary upright memberemanating upward from a topside of the castor frame; two or moresecondary upright members emanating upward from a topside of the castorframe; a pivoting member engaged to the primary upright member and thesecondary upright members; a platform frame engaged to the pivotingmember and the primary and secondary upright members wherein theplatform frame may pivot from a substantially vertical orientation to asubstantially horizontal orientation; a support member secured to theplatform frame which is used to aid in the retention of slabs; and alift mechanism operationally associated with the castor frame, theupright members and the platform frame wherein the lift mechanism mayraise or lower the platform frame relative to the castor frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a proximal front view of a slab cart.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a slab cart.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a slab cart.

FIG. 4 is a proximal front view of a slab cart.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a slab cart.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a slab cart.

FIG. 7 is a proximal side view of a slab cart.

FIG. 8 is a proximal front view of a slab cart.

FIG. 9 is a proximal side view of the slab cart.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the slab cart in use.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the slab cart in use.

FIG. 12 is a proximal view of the slab cart in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The instant invention describes a method for installing a countertop 5which includes the steps of: loading a countertop 5 onto a slab cart 10,the slab cart 10 comprising a castor frame 20 including four castors 30rotatably mounted to an underside of the castor frame 20. The slab cart10 includes a primary upright member 40 emanating upward from a topsideof the castor frame 20 and two or more secondary upright members 45emanating upward from a topside or the ends of the castor frame 20. Theprimary upright member 40 and the secondary upright members 45 each areengaged to the castor frame 20 at their proximal ends. A pivoting member90 is engaged to the primary upright member 40 and the secondary uprightmembers 45 with the pivoting member to 90 being engaged to the distalends of the primary upright member 40 and the secondary upright members45. A platform frame 50 is engaged to the pivoting member 90 and theprimary 40 and secondary upright members 45 wherein the platform frame50 may pivot from a substantially vertical orientation to asubstantially horizontal orientation. A support member 70 is secured tothe platform frame 50 which is used to aid in the retention of slabs andor countertops 5. The slab cart 10 also includes a lift mechanismoperationally associated with the castor frame 20, the primary 40 andsecondary upright members 45 and the platform frame 50, wherein the liftmechanism may raise or lower the platform frame 50 relative to thecastor frame 20. An operator will then position the countertop 5 in adesired installation location using the slab cart 10 using only a singleperson. The operator will then unload the countertop 5 from the slabcart 10 to the desired installation location.

Countertop 5, as used herein, refers to a horizontal surface inkitchens, bathrooms, lavatories, offices, workshops and workrooms whichis generally installed upon a cabinet. Countertops 5 may be made fromany material known in the art. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, a countertop 5 may be selected from the group including,natural stone (i.e., granite, marble), cultured stone, concrete, wood,composite material (i.e. Corian®, quartz), metal, tile, or a combinationthereof.

Slab cart 10, as used herein, is a cart which is used to transport andposition slabs of countertop material from one place to another. A slabcart 10 includes a castor frame 20 and a plurality of castors 30. Theslab cart 10 also includes a primary upright member 40 and two or moresecondary upright members 45 which are engaged to and emanate up fromthe castor frame 20. A pivoting member 90 is pivotally engaged to theprimary upright member 40 and secondary upright members 45 at the endopposite to that which is engaged to the castor frame 20. A platformframe 50 is engaged to the primary upright member 40 and secondaryupright members 45 and the pivoting member 90.

Looking to the figures, the castor frame 20 is the base of the slab cart10. The castor frame 20 includes a cross bar 21 which is engaged to thecastor legs at either of its ends. (See FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 12). A castor30 is secured to the end of each castor leg. A castor 30, as usedherein, is to be understood as it is known in the art. In oneembodiment, a castor is a, single, double, or compound wheel that isdesigned to be mounted to the bottom of a larger object (i.e. a castorframe 20) so as to enable that object to be easily moved. Castors 30 areavailable in various sizes, and are commonly made of rubber, plastic,nylon, aluminum, or stainless steel. In one embodiment of the instantinvention a castor frame 20 includes a pair of straight castor legsemanating out laterally from each end of a cross bar 21 (FIG. 7) and apair of angled castor legs 24 which emanate out laterally from each endof the cross bar 21, but on the opposite side as the straight castorlegs. The angled castor legs 24 allow a support member 70 and theplatform frame 50 to pivot two a vertical or near vertical position ascan be seen in FIGS. 5, 7 and 9. The castor legs 22, 24 may bereinforced with castor frame supports 25 as shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and8-12. The castor frame supports 25 are generally secured to either acrossbar 21 or a castor leg 22, 24 at its proximal end 26 and secured toa secondary upright member 45 at its distal end 28. The castor framesupports 25 reinforce the stability of the crossbar 21, the castor legs22, 24 and the secondary upright members 45.

Primary upright number 40, as shown in the figures, emanates upward froma topside of the cross bar 21 of the castor frame 20. The primaryupright member 40 is located approximately in the center of thehorizontal cross bar 21 and emanates vertically upward. The primaryupright member 40 is secured at its proximal end 42 to the upper surfaceof a crossbar 21 and it is secured at its distal end 44 to the surfaceof a pivoting member 90. In one embodiment of the instant invention, alift mechanism 84 is housed within a primary upright member 40. Theprimary upright member 40 may be stabilized and reinforced by one ormore platform frame supports 52. The proximal end 53 of each platformframe support 52 is engaged and secured to the side of the primaryupright member 40 and the distal end 54 of each platform frame support52 is engaged and secured to the pivoting member 90.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the primary upright member40 includes an inner member 41 which is telescopically engaged to anouter member 43. The inner member 41 (the proximal end 42 of the primaryupright member 40) is secured to the cross bar 21 of the castor frame 20and the outer member 43 (the distal end 44 of the primary upright member40) is secured to the surface of the pivoting member 90. A liftmechanism is housed within the primary upright member 40 and functionsto raise and lower a platform frame 50, which is engaged to the pivotingmember 90, while the inner member 41 and outer member 43 remaintelescopically engaged to one another.

Secondary upright member 45, as used herein, refers to a pair of uprightmembers which are engaged to each end of the cross bar 21 of the castorframe 20. The proximal end 46 of the secondary upright member 45 engagesthe cross bar. A pair of castor legs 22, 24 engage the proximal end 46of each secondary upright member 45. The distal end 48 of the secondaryupright member 45 engages the pivoting member 90. In one embodiment ofthe present invention, each secondary upright member 45 is positioned anequal distance away from the primary upright member 40. Each secondaryupright member 45 may be stabilized and reinforced by one or more castorframe supports 25. The proximal end 26 of each castor frame support 25is engaged and secured to the side of a secondary upright member 45 andthe distal end 28 of each castor frame support 25 is engaged and securedto the crossbar 21.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the secondary upright member45 includes an inner member 47 which is telescopically engaged to anouter member 49. The outer member 49 (the distal end 46 of the secondaryupright member 45) is secured to the cross bar 21 of the castor frame 20and the inner member 47 (the proximal end 46 of the secondary uprightmember 45) is secured to the surface of the pivoting member 90. A liftmechanism is housed within the primary upright member 40 and functionsto raise and lower a platform frame 50, which is engaged to the pivotingmember 90, while the inner member 47 and outer member 49 remaintelescopically engaged to one another. The lift mechanism 84 may beoperated by any means known in the art. In one embodiment of the presentinvention the lift mechanism 84 may be operated with the crank handle85. In another embodiment of the present invention, the lift mechanismmay be selected from the group including, but not limited to, pneumatic,mechanical, electronic, a chain mechanism, or a combination thereof.

Platform frame 50, as used herein, refers to the primary device whichsupports and manipulates a countertop. The platform frame 50 includes apair of outer rails 55 which are telescopically engaged to a pair ofinner rails 60. The distal end 57 of the outer rail 55 is telescopicallyengaged to the proximal end 61 of the inner rail 60. One or moreplatform frame stiles 65 is engaged to each outer rail 55 and a pivotingmember 90 is engaged to each of the outer rails 55 some distance fromthe platform frame stiles 65. A support member 70 is engaged to thedistal ends 62 of the inner rail 60. One or more rail locking pins 59may be disengaged to allow the telescopic adjustment and movement of theinner rails 60 relative to the outer rails 55 and re-engaged to lock theposition of the inner rails 60 relative to the outer rails 55. Thetelescopic adjustment and movement of the inner rails 60 within theouter rails 55 allows for the adjustment of the width of the platformframe 50 which allows for the balanced support and transportation ofvarying sizes, shapes and weights of countertops and countertopmaterials.

The platform frame 50 may pivot from a substantially verticalorientation (FIG. 2) to a substantially horizontal orientation (FIG. 1)and back again. The support member 70 is designed to support andmaintain the position of the countertop material when the countertop isnot in a horizontal position. The support member 70 may be L-shaped, orU-shaped. In one embodiment of the present invention, a support member70 may be an L-shaped member which further includes one or more U-shapedmembers 75 secured along the length of the support member 70 (SeeFigs.). The platform frame 50 may also include one or more primarylocking pins 80 which may be engaged to prevent the platform frame 50from pivoting and disengaged to allow the platform frame 50 to remainstationary. The platform frame 50 may remain stationary in asubstantially horizontal position (FIGS. 2, 3, 4 & 7) or a substantiallyvertical position (FIGS. 1, 5 & 6). The platform frame 50, and moreparticularly the pivoting member 90, may be stabilized and reinforced byone or more platform frame supports 52. The proximal end 53 of eachplatform frame support 52 is engaged and secured to the side of theprimary upright member 40 and the distal end 54 of each platform framesupport 52 is engaged and secured to the pivoting member 90.

In one embodiment of the present invention, one platform frame stile 65is engaged to the proximal end 56 of each outer rail 55, anotherplatform frame stile 65 is engaged to the distal end 57 of each outerrail 55, and a pivoting member 90 is engaged to each of the outer rails55 at a location which is approximately equidistant between eachplatform frame stile 65.

Pivoting member 90, as used herein, refers to a part of the platformframe 50 which allows the platform frame to pivot from a substantiallyhorizontal position to a substantially vertical position as illustratedin the figures.

The slab cart 10, as described herein, may be comprised of metal,plastic, composite material, or any material having suitable strength tosustain the weight of a slab of material suitable for use as acountertop. In one embodiment of the present invention, the slab cart iscomprised of tubular metal (round, square, etc.) of varying lengths,gauges and thicknesses. In another embodiment of the present invention,the slab cart is comprised of square tube metal members which are weldedto one another. In yet another embodiment, the slab cart is comprised ofI-beams, tubular members, solid members, or a combination thereof. Inany of the above embodiments, the metal used may be selected from thegroup including, but not limited to, iron, steel, aluminum, magnesium,titanium, or any combination (i.e. alloy) thereof.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the materials used toconstruct the slab cart 10 must enable the cart 10 to be strong enoughto support and transport the weight of any size countertop made ofmetal, stone, wood, tile, composite material, or any other materialknown in the art to be used for a countertop. In another embodiment, thematerials used to construct the slab cart 10 must enable the cart 10 tobe strong enough to support and transport a countertop weighing between10 and 1500 pounds. In still another embodiment, the materials used toconstruct the slab cart 10 must enable the cart 10 to be strong enoughto support and transport a countertop weighing between 10 and 1200pounds. In yet another embodiment, the materials used to construct theslab cart 10 must enable the cart 10 to be strong enough to support andtransport a countertop weighing between 10 and 1000 pounds. In stillanother embodiment, the materials used to construct the slab cart 10must enable the cart 10 to be strong enough to support and transport acountertop weighing between 10 and 800 pounds. In yet anotherembodiment, the materials used to construct the slab cart 10 must enablethe cart 10 to be strong enough to support and transport a countertopweighing between 10 and 600 pounds. In another embodiment, the materialsused to construct the slab cart 10 must enable the cart 10 to be strongenough to support and transport a countertop weighing between 10 and 400pounds.

In one embodiment of the above method, the slab cart 10 further includesone or more primary locking pins 80 engaged to the platform frame 50 andoperationally engaged to the secondary upright members 45 wherein theplatform frame 50 may be locked into a desired orientation (i.e.substantially horizontal, substantially vertical, or any point inbetween).

The instant invention further describes a method for installing acountertop 5 which including the steps of: providing a slab cart 10which includes a castor frame 20 with four castors 30 rotatably mountedto an underside of the castor frame 20, a primary upright member 40emanating upward from the topside of the castor frame 20, two or moresecondary upright members 45 emanating upward or secured to each end ofthe castor frame 20, and a pivoting member 90 engaged to the primaryupright member 40 and the secondary upright members 45. A platform frame50 is engaged to the pivoting member 90 and the primary 40 and secondaryupright members 45 where the platform frame 50 may pivot from asubstantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontalorientation. A support member 70 is secured to the platform frame 50which is used to aid in the retention of countertops 5 and a liftmechanism operationally associated with the castor frame 20, the uprightmembers 40, 45 and the platform frame 50 wherein the lift mechanism mayraise or lower the platform frame 50 relative to the castor frame 20. Acountertop 5 is loaded onto the cart 10, the countertop 5 is transportedusing the cart 10 to a desired installation location where thecountertop 5 is unloaded from the cart 10 to the desired installationlocation.

In one embodiment of the above method, the slab cart 10 further includesone or more primary locking pins 80 engaged to the platform frame 50 andoperationally engaged to the secondary upright members 45 wherein theplatform frame 50 may be locked into a desired orientation (i.e.substantially horizontal, substantially vertical, or any point inbetween). In another embodiment of the above method, the lift mechanismmay be pneumatic, mechanical, electronic, a chain mechanism, or acombination thereof. In another embodiment of the above method, theprimary 40 and secondary 45 upright members are comprised of two or moresections which are telescopically engaged to one another in order toextend or retract as the lift mechanism raises or lowers the platformframe 50 relative to the castor frame 20 allowing the platform frame tobe raised or lowered to the same or substantially the same height as theinstallation height of the countertop.

In another embodiment of the above method, the a platform frame 50includes a pair of outer rails 55 secured to each end of the pivotingmember 90, each outer rail 55 having a stile 65 secured to each endforming a rectangular platform frame, and a pair of inner rails 60, eachtelescopically engaged to the pair of outer rails 55 at one end andhaving a support member 70 engaged to the opposite end. In still anotherembodiment of the above method, the support member 70 further comprisesone or more u-shaped members 75 secured to the support member to aid inthe support and retention of countertops during their transport andmanipulation. In yet another embodiment of the above method, whichfurther comprises a pair of locking pins 59 secured to the outer rails55 and inner rails 60, wherein the locking pins 59 may be engaged tosecure the location of the inner rail 60 relative to the outer rail 55or disengaged to allow the telescopic movement of the inner rail 60relative to the outer rail 55.

One embodiment of any of the above methods includes the loading,positioning and unloading of a countertop using any of the above carts10 being carried out by a single person.

The instant invention also includes a slab cart 10 comprising a castorframe 20 which includes four castors 30 rotatably mounted to anunderside of the castor frame 20, a primary upright member 40 emanatingupward from a topside of the castor frame, 20, two or more secondaryupright members 45 emanating upward from the ends of the castor frame20, a pivoting member 90 engaged to the primary upright member 40 andthe secondary upright members 45 and a platform frame 50 engaged to thepivoting member 90 and the primary 40 and secondary 45 upright memberswhere the platform frame 50 may pivot from a substantially verticalorientation to a substantially horizontal orientation. The slab cart 10also includes a support member 70 secured to the platform frame 50 whichis used to aid in the retention of countertops and a lift mechanismoperationally associated with the castor frame 20, the upright members40, 45 and the platform frame 50 where the lift mechanism may raise orlower the platform frame 50 relative to the castor frame 40.

In one embodiment of the instant invention, the slab cart 10 furthercomprises one or more locking pins 80 which are engaged to the platformframe 50 and operationally engaged to the secondary upright members 45wherein the platform frame 50 may be locked into a desired orientation(i.e. substantially horizontal, substantially vertical, or any point inbetween). In another embodiment, the primary 40 and secondary 45 uprightmembers are comprised of two or more sections which are telescopicallyengaged to one another in order to extend or retract as the liftmechanism raises or lowers the platform frame 50 relative to the castorframe 20. In still another embodiment, the a platform frame 50 includesa pair of outer rails 55 secured to each end of the pivoting member 90,each the outer rail 55 having a stile secured to each end forming arectangular platform frame and a pair of inner rails 60, eachtelescopically engaged to the pair of outer rails 55 at one end andhaving a support member 70 engaged to the opposite end. In yet anotherembodiment, the support member 70 further comprises one or more u-shapedmembers 75 secured to the support member 70 to aid in the support andretention of slabs during their transport and manipulation. In stillanother embodiment, the cart 10 further comprises a pair of locking pins59 secured to the outer rails 55 and inner rails 60, wherein the lockingpins 59 may be engaged to secure the location of the inner rail 60relative to the outer rail 55 or disengaged to allow the telescopicmovement of the inner rail 60 relative to the outer rail 55.

The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departingfrom the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly,reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to theforegoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. Theinvention illustratively discloses herein suitably may be practiced inthe absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for installing a countertop whichincludes the steps of: loading a countertop onto a slab cart, said slabcart comprising a castor frame including: four castors rotatably mountedto an underside of said castor frame; a primary upright member emanatingupward from a topside of a cross bar of said castor frame; two or moresecondary upright members emanating upward from a topside of thecrossbar of said castor frame wherein said primary upright member andsaid secondary upright members being substantially linear to oneanother; a pivoting member engaged to said primary upright member andsaid secondary upright members; a platform frame engaged to saidpivoting member and said primary and secondary upright members whereinsaid platform frame may pivot from a substantially vertical orientationto a substantially horizontal orientation; a support member secured tosaid platform frame which is used to aid in the retention of slabs; anda lift mechanism operationally associated said castor frame, saidprimary upright member, said secondary upright members and said platformframe wherein said lift mechanism may raise or lower said platform framerelative to said castor frame and said secondary upright members providestability of said slab as it is raised or lowered; positioning thecountertop in a desired installation location using said slab cart usingonly a single person; unloading said countertop from said cart to saiddesired installation location.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein saidcountertop slab cart further comprising one or more locking pins engagedto said platform frame and operationally engaged to said secondaryupright members wherein said platform frame may be locked into a desiredorientation.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said lift mechanism beingpneumatic, mechanical, electronic, a chain mechanism, or a combinationthereof.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said primary and secondaryupright members being comprised of two or more sections which aretelescopically engaged to one another in order to extend or retract asthe lift mechanism raises or lowers the platform frame relative to thecastor frame.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said a platform frameincludes a pair of outer rails 55 secured to each end of said pivotingmember, each said outer rail having a stile secured to each end forminga rectangular platform frame; and a pair of inner rails, eachtelescopically engaged to said pair of outer rails at one end and havinga support member 70 engaged to the opposite end.
 6. The method of claim5 wherein said support member 70 further comprising one or more u-shapedmembers 75 secured to said support member to aid in the support andretention of slabs during their transport and manipulation.
 7. Themethod of claim 5 further comprising a pair of locking pins secured tosaid outer rails 55 and inner rails 60, wherein said locking pins may beengaged to secure the location of the inner rail 55 relative to saidouter rail 60 or disengaged to allow the telescopic movement of saidinner rail 55 relative to said outer rail
 60. 8. A method for installinga countertop which including the steps of: providing a slab cartcomprising: a castor frame including: four castors rotatably mounted toan underside of said castor frame; a primary upright member emanatingupward from a topside of a cross bar of said castor frame; two or moresecondary upright members emanating upward from a topside of thecrossbar of said castor frame wherein said primary upright member andsaid secondary upright members being substantially linear to oneanother; a pivoting member engaged to said primary upright member andsaid secondary upright members; a platform frame engaged to saidpivoting member and said primary and secondary upright members whereinsaid platform frame may pivot from a substantially vertical orientationto a substantially horizontal orientation; a support member secured tosaid platform frame which is used to aid in the retention ofcountertops; and a lift mechanism operationally associated said castorframe, said primary upright member, said secondary upright members andsaid platform frame wherein said lift mechanism may raise or lower saidplatform frame relative to said castor frame and said secondary uprightmembers provide stability of said slab as it is raised or lowered;loading a countertop onto said cart; transporting said countertop usingsaid cart to a desired installation location of said countertop;unloading said countertop from said cart to said desired installationlocation.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said countertop slab cartfurther comprising one or more locking pins engaged to said platformframe and operationally engaged to said secondary upright memberswherein said platform frame may be locked into a desired orientation.10. The method of claim 8 wherein said lift mechanism being pneumatic,mechanical, electronic, a chain mechanism, or a combination thereof. 11.The method of claim 8 wherein said primary and secondary upright membersbeing comprised of two or more sections which are telescopically engagedto one another in order to extend or retract as the lift mechanismraises or lowers the platform frame relative to the castor frame. 12.The method of claim 8 wherein said a platform frame includes a pair ofouter rails 55 secured to each end of said pivoting member, each saidouter rail having a stile secured to each end forming a rectangularplatform frame; and a pair of inner rails, each telescopically engagedto said pair of outer rails at one end and having a support member 70engaged to the opposite end.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein saidsupport member 70 further comprising one or more u-shaped members 75secured to said support member to aid in the support and retention ofcountertops during their transport and manipulation.
 14. The method ofclaim 12 further comprising a pair of locking pins secured to said outerrails and inner rails, wherein said locking pins may be engaged tosecure the location of the inner rail relative to said outer rail ordisengaged to allow the telescopic movement of said inner rail relativeto said outer rail.